Joaquín, during the game.

MATCH REPORT | Real Betis is defeated by Villarreal (2-1)

The rival was fairly superior

Bad night for Real Betis Balompié at Castellón. The team was defeated by Villarreal CF in a game in which the locals scored two goals in two minutes. Lo Celso scored for the Green and Whites near the end.

Betis tried to gain possession from the beginning but Villarreal were pressing really strong, quite intense from the start. In the 10th minute, Mario Gaspar elbowed Loren in the face inside the box, two metres away from the referee but he decided to ignore it. The first shot on goal of the game came through Fornals who found the gloves of Pau López. Again the keeper denied the same player this time with a great save.

The first for Betis came hallway through the first half with a header from Loren that Asenjo saved. The best so far, though, was a couple of minutes later for Chukwueze. The young Nigerian was alone in front of Pau who produced a great save. Betis were not comfortable on the pitch with the rival's pressing and were struggling to find spaces. The best of the first half was for Joaquín just before half time after a good play, but he couldn't connect a good effort.

The second half began and Villarreal soon had the first with a header that Pau sent to corner kick with a fantastic save. In the following play, Moreno won the position and headed the cross in. The game became really hard for Betis two minutes later when Chukwueze took advantage of mistake in defence.

Again, the referee's decisions were not in favour of Betis, as Funes Mori deflected with his arm a shot from Loren. Corner kick given, nothing else. Betis started to make changes and tried to attack more, while the home team were trying to take advantage of it in counterattacks.

Canales had a great one fifteen minutes before the end. Tello delivered a good assist and the midfielder shot straight into the keeper. Asenjo saved again a goal, this time from Mandi with a header, with a great save. Just one minute before the end, Lo Celso finally found the back of the top left corner following an assist from León, but there was not much time left and the team lost three points.

Villarreal CF: Asenjo, Mario Gaspar (Miguelón 66'), Víctor Ruiz, Funes Mori, Pedraza, Cáseres, Trigueros (Morlanes 40'), Chukwueze, Fornals, Cazorla, Gerard Moreno (Bacca 78').
Goals: Moreno (51'), Chukwueze (53').
Booked: Morlanes (72'), Ruiz (88).

Real Betis Balompié: Pau López, Francis, Mandi, Bartra, Feddal (Tello 60'), Junior, Carvalho, Guardado (Lo Celso 63'), Canales, Joaquín (Sergio León 69'), Loren.
Goals: Lo Celso (89').
Booked: Canales (89').

Referee: Eduardo Prieto Iglesias.